Psychologist specialist Victoria Tran Huynh feels that skin color can become a source of noise in the psychologist’s office. Photo: private.
As a psychologist with a different skin tone than white, I have on several occasions received racist comments from clients. What has surprised me most is the attitudes of colleagues.

Victoria Tran Huynh
PUBLISHED
June 11, 2020
TOPICS
racism

After the police killed George Floyd in America, much attention has been paid to systematic racism. Systematic racism also exists in Norway, and the theme engages many. I hope it can also engage more Norwegian psychologists. When I attended the psychology study in Bergen from 2009 to 2014, the themes of racism and discrimination were little discussed. Cultural psychology was not a compulsory curriculum, only a small elective. An elective that I chose to take, as the only one from my litter, in the company of exchange students. I was also one of a few minority psychology students. When my litter passed the final exam, I was the only one with a different skin tone than white.

I often wondered why cultural psychology was not a subject that interested more people in the study, given the increased globalization. This course was not thematized on courses during the specialization either. As the immigrant population makes up almost 17 per cent of the Norwegian population, it is very disappointing that we psychologists receive so little training in cultural psychology in basic education and the specialization program.

My experience as a minority psychologist has been both beneficial and disadvantageous.

Victoria Tran Huynh

Skin color as a source of noise

How well equipped are we to meet clients with a different ethnic background than ourselves? How much do we know about other cultures? And how aware are we of our position as psychologists with the complexion we have? Can my skin color be a source of noise in collaboration with clients? As a minority psychologist, I cannot help but think about these issues. Psychologists are trained to be aware of their own attitudes and prejudices, but how aware are we of our attitudes to racism? A previous study (Helms & Carter, 1991) has shown that clients regarded light-skinned therapists as more capable than dark-skinned therapists, and therefore preferred light-skinned therapists. This was true for both light and dark skin clients.

The doll study experiments in the 40’s by Clark & ​​Clark also support the preference most people have for light-skinned. As a psychologist with skin color other than white, it is difficult to avoid being affected by such research results in meeting clients. This leads to uncertainty that I have learned to become aware of. Uncertainty about clients will pre-stamp me out of my skin tone, or actually judge me based on my skills and competence. Do I have the same starting point as other, light-skinned psychologists?

My experience as a minority psychologist has been both beneficial and disadvantageous. Some clients with minority backgrounds have appreciated that I also have minority backgrounds like them, and that it has contributed positively to a greater common understanding that has strengthened our alliance. Other clients have given me both direct and indirect racist comments, which have always been interesting to explore. Some do not want me as their treat. Whether it was due to my foreign name I do not know. Few people state it as a cause. Often they have justified it with my age; that they think I lack life experience because I am young. Whatever the cause, being exposed to racism and discrimination can be hurtful. Still, I can tolerate experiencing racism from clients, and being able to handle it becomes part of the job.

It surprised me that such attitudes also existed with psychologists.

Victoria Tran Huynh

“Bad business”

Once, I had an oral agreement to begin practice at a private psychology office. Everything seemed promising. When I went to the office to sign the contract, the psychologist who was a leader appeared insecure, saying that he had had poor experience with psychologists with foreign names. He found that there were fewer clients who would go to such psychologists and that it would be bad business for his psychologist’s office. That’s why I couldn’t get the job.

It surprised me that such attitudes also existed with psychologists. This important experience and movement #blacklivesmatter has made me wonder how aware we psychologists are of our attitudes and prejudices against others with minority backgrounds and different skin color?

How aware are we of the benefits and drawbacks of our skin tone? Could it be that we subconsciously expose others to racism? How do we know when it is racism or not? These are questions and themes that I hope psychologists in Norway will get more involved in.

Fortunately, I am proud of my minority background and consider it an important contribution to expanding the diversity of psychologists in Norway.
TEXT: Victoria Tran Huynh, specialist in social and general psychology